Devotional thought for today: "Let us lower ourselves to exalt ourselves, imitating the Lord who descended from heave into extreme humility and in turn was raised up from humility to an appropriate exaltation. Indeed, we find that everything the lord did is a lesson in humility. As an infant, at first he lay in a cave, and not even in a bed but in a manger. In the home of a carpenter and a poor mother, he was subject to his mother and her betrothed. As a student, he listened to what he did not need to learn; even still he asked questions... He submitted to John, the Master received baptism from his servant. He offered no resistance to anyone who rose up against him, nor did he make use of the indescribable power that he possessed; instead, he yielded to them as if they were more powerful and allowed the temporal authorities to exercise the power given them. He stood before the high priests and as condemned criminal... he was spit upon by slaves and worthless louts. he was delivered up to death, the most shameful death to be found among humans. Thus he experienced every stage of human existence, from birth to death. And after such great humility, only then did he manifest his glory, giving a share of his glory to those who glorified him... So then, how shall we descend to saving humility and be rid of the malignant tumor of pride? If we practice humility in everything and do not neglect anything as if no harm could come to us from it. For the soul grows like what it pursues, and is molded and shaped according to what it does... Instead, in everything get rid of pomposity. Be good to your friend, gentle to your servant, patient with the cocky, kind to the humbled. Console the afflicted, visit the distressed, disdain none. Be pleasant when addressing others, cheerful when replying to them, courteous, affable to all. Never sing your own praises, not get other people to sing them. Never engage in uncivil conversation. Conceal as far as possible your own excellence...Make as much effort not to be glorified by others as some people make to be glorified..." -St. Basil of Caesarea, Homily on Humility
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 15:17:49 +0000
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